Surprising Black Prince Winery Secrets
Located in the heart of Prince Edward County, Black Prince Winery and Canadian cellars is a family-owned and operated vineyard that offers more than just excellent wine.
Black Prince is one of the oldest county wineries and is well known for their commitment to quality and sustainable winemaking practices.
Their portfolio includes a wide variety of reds, Rose, and white wines made from grapes grown throughout the county.
Named after Edward of Woodstock, known to history as the Black Prince this winery brings a medieval theme to Picton.
Let’s take a closer look at this Prince Edward County winery with a twist.
The Vineyard & Winery
As one of the oldest county wineries, Black Prince Winery was founded in 2001 and offers fine accessible wines made in local county oak barrels.
With daily tastings, the property features tastings of local barrel wines and so we took them up on it.
The vineyard sits on just over 50 acres of land, which produces a variety of fine accessible wines.
Take a look at what they have,
- Sunset Blush Rose – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir juice with no pressing- natural, soft, flavourful, and fruit-forward.
- Local Unoaked Chardonnay – Baked apple and toasted bread crumb nose, balanced acidity with pear accents
- Pinot Noir Terroir Elite – Ripe juicy fruit with soft tannins, kissed by oak with a long finish. Used local county oak barrels.
- Cabernet Franc Reserve – Fruit forward, red berries, and a subtle earthiness, soft & balanced oak treatment. Raspberry & dark plum vanilla flavors. Made in giant oak sherry casks.
- Merlot – This wonderfully oaked local Merlot has a full red berry and lead pencil nose, lovely ripe raspberry flavor with well-integrated tannins, and a nicely oaked profile. Also made in giant oak sherry casks.
- Pinot Gris – Zingy mid-palate with lots of fruit & well-balanced acidity.
- Riesling – Fruity but delicate. Off Dry. Heather & ripe peach nose with fresh citrus and zesty honey taste
- Mary Jane Hemp Wine – Made with white grapes & local hemp. Herbaceous with nutty citrus overtones. Hemp benefits include omega-3 and omega-6, high fiber, and vitamins+minerals.
The winery also uses grapes sourced from other local vineyards to create its signature blends.
Their Winemaking Philosophy & Processes
The team at Black Prince Winery is committed to creating wines of the highest quality while also protecting the environment through sustainable winemaking practices.
They use organically certified products whenever possible during the fermentation process in order to minimize any potential impacts on their surroundings.
Additionally, they employ traditional winemaking techniques such as barrel aging and lees stirring to enhance both structure and flavor in their wines.
Black Prince Winery Weekly and Daily Tastings
When we visited we did a wine tasting inside at the well-appointed tasting center. I say there is something for every wine lover here, whether you prefer light reds like me or crisp whites.
Wine tastings were $2 each but if you buy a bottle that fee is free.
I took home a bottle of the pinot gris cabernet franc and a couple of fruit vinegars reductions.
The Black Prince Barrel House
Secret# 1 – The property features a restored century barn at Black Prince Winery called the Barrel House that allows visitors to step into the cellar and discover a variety of barrel-aged wine vinegar, local beer, and live demonstrations.
I call this a secret because when you enter the main building you don’t realize there is a restored century barn suitable for special events in the back.
If you time it right there are special events out back or in the barrel house offering live demonstrations weekly and daily tastings of local barrel-aged wine vinegars reductions.
I suggest asking if the barrel house is open when you visit next.
Barrel Aged Vinegar from Black Prince Winery
Secret # 2 – Barrel Aged Vinegar from Black Prince Winery is an exquisite delight that food aficionados simply cannot turn down.
This vinegar is aged in a unique way – masterfully, inside 30-year-old oak troughs and 20-year-old wooden barrels!
As versatile as it is mouthwatering, Barrel Aged Vinegar can be used to dress salads or roasted vegetables for a hearty Mediterranean-style dinner or to season marinades for grilled meats.
Each bottle of Barrel Aged Vinegar from Black Prince Winery preserves the character of its origin like no other from single vineyards in France, Italy, or Spain.
This refined condiment truly sets itself apart from others in quality and taste.
The oak aging process gives the Barrel Aged Vinegar its rich dark color while the barrels give it a slightly smoky taste.
Gourmet Wood Fire Pizza
The last Saturday in July we stopped by to try the gourmet wood-fired pizza.
We were told that the wood-fired pizza was a must-try so we went there to try it out.
I ordered the meat lovers, Italian-style pizzas with Mexican chorizo sausages and authentic Italian cheeses, handmade with organic, and local ingredients.
Going beyond the norms of traditional pizza toppings, Black prince uses unique flavors that I found very tasty like the Mexican chorizo sausages and authentic Italian cheeses.
We were able to sip on wine tastings throughout the afternoon as they lined up for some delicious gourmet pizza creations!
If you’re planning a trip to Prince Edward County, make sure you add Black Prince Winery to your itinerary!
See my complete list of wineries in the county with prices here.
My last 2 Cents
With its commitment to quality winemaking practices and dedication to environmental stewardship, it’s easy to see why Black Prince Winery has earned its reputation as one of Ontario’s premier producers of premium wines.
Whether you’re looking for a new favorite wine or just want to experience some beautiful scenery close up, be sure not to miss out on an opportunity to pay them a visit!
You won’t regret it!